Hermes Giulia Sandal Women Calfskin Gold Kelly Buckle Blanc H232129Z 90350

White sandals are a commitment, and this Giulia makes it a pleasant one. The heel is barely a centimetre, the calfskin is white rather than cream, and the gold permabrass Kelly buckle gives all that brightness something to hold on to.

The construction is quiet and thorough: a black leather sole with a leather edge and heel, permabrass plating on the buckle, and white lambskin running through the insole and the lining. That white lining is the detail I appreciate most, because a dark footbed would have shrunk the shoe visually.

I wear mine with everything from cropped white jeans to a long navy dress, and in strong sunlight the white bounces light onto the foot in a way that makes legs look longer. Sizes run 36 to 41. The near-flat sole means walking to lunch is not a decision.

The honest part: white leather shows city life almost immediately at the toe and heel counters, and the pale lining keeps a memory of every bare-footed wear. A damp cloth after use and a cream made for light leather keep it presentable; going after stains aggressively only spreads them.

Mine has settled into an ivory tone at the edges that I genuinely prefer to the original stark white, and after two summers of lunches and one outdoor wedding they remain intact. Made in Italy. If you have always wanted white shoes and feared them, the Giulia is the forgiving way in.